Buying an engagement ring, especially one with a quality diamond, is definitely a major expense for most people if they follow the guideline set by De Beers: that of spending two or three months of one’s salary. But there are ways to get an affordable engagement ring that is high-quality without going into debt.

If you decide on buying a diamond ring, keep in mind that there are really no great bargains within the diamond industry. If you can find a big price difference in one store over another, for the same grade of diamonds, the most likely reason is that one store is selling diamonds with over-inflated grades from a less reputable gemological laboratory or one that has a vested interest for moving the diamonds for the store.


So take the time to learn the basics of the four c’s, the various metals available, alternatives to the traditional diamond engagement ring, window shop to get a feel of the market and then buy the best quality engagement ring within your budget. With that in mind, here are a few suggestions to getting a high quality but affordable diamond engagement ring:

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